Fisher’s availability is intriguing to Lakers

Javaris Crittenton arrived at the Lakers’ practice facility Tuesday morning for a physical exam and a meet-and-greet with the media.

Will another backcourt addition be far behind?

The Lakers were as stunned as anybody that Derek Fisher asked to be released from the Utah Jazz with a contract that still had three years and almost $21 million remaining on it.

Fisher’s reasoning was simple: His infant daughter, Tatum, had a rare form of eye cancer. Fisher plans to move to one of a half-dozen cities with appropriate medical care for his daughter.

It’s not hard to envision him returning to the Lakers.

Phil Jackson has a tremendous comfort level with players he has coached, and Fisher was one of Kobe Bryant’s confidants when the Lakers were winning championships. Fisher played eight seasons with the Lakers after being drafted in 1996 and obviously knows the triangle offense after being part of three championship runs.

“The Lakers are obviously close to his heart,” Fisher’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, said Tuesday.

But Fisher will seek the full mid-level exception of five years and about $30 million, Bartelstein said, which might be too much for the Lakers, who must spend their main free-agent tool wisely.

Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak declined to talk about specific negotiations with Fisher, but the fact Fisher left behind almost $21 million in guaranteed money did not escape him.

“That’s the unprecedented part about this, is that there’s a person out there that would do that,” Kupchak said. “I’m not surprised that that’s Derek Fisher.”

Despite turning 33 next month, Fisher showed few signs of slowing down last season.

He averaged 10.1 points, 3.3 assists and 27.9 minutes, marks that were higher than his totals during the 2003-04 season, his last with the Lakers. He averaged 7.1 points, 2.1 assists and 21.6 minutes that season before signing a six-year, $36-million free-agent contract with Golden State.

For now, the Lakers have only three ballhandling guards on their roster -- Sasha Vujacic, Jordan Farmar and Crittenton.

The Lakers are a little uneasy with Steve Blake asking for the full mid-level exception. Another backcourt option is Greek guard Theo Papaloukas, although the Lakers have downplayed that possibility since a Greek newspaper reported last week that Papaloukas had been offered a contract by them.

Meanwhile, Crittenton, 19, officially became a Laker by signing a two-year, $2.7-million contract. Beyond that, the Lakers have two one-year options that could bring his total salary to more than $6 million through four seasons.

At the very least, he seems ready to tackle Jackson’s reputation of overlooking rookies.

“That’s fine with me,” Crittenton said. “He’s only going to make me a better player. He’s coached some of the greatest athletes and he’s only made them better.”

Crittenton averaged 14.4 points and 5.8 assists in one season at Georgia Tech and was drafted by the Lakers with the 19th pick.

Farmar and Crittenton will play for the Lakers’ summer league team, which begins play Sunday in Las Vegas.

Former Cal State Fullerton guard Ralphy Holmes will also be on the team, as will Coby Karl, the son of Denver Nuggets Coach George Karl.

Lakers assistants Brian Shaw and Kurt Rambis are coaching the team, which will play five games.

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Free-agent center Chris Mihm will be in Chicago this weekend for a visit with the Bulls. He is also expected to talk with the Phoenix Suns.

Mihm, 27, sat out last season after undergoing ankle surgery in November. He was averaging a career-best 10.2 points a game for the Lakers before initially injuring his right ankle toward the end of the 2005-06 season.

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mike.bresnahan@latimes.com